Linkage



Dec. 24, 1940.l c. H. KESTENMAN. 2,225,745

LINKAGE Filed May 24, 1940 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .LINKAGE Applicaties May 24, 1940, serialNo. 33?:,014

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of expansible or extendible linkages for use in articles of jewelry suchas bracelets, bands, belts. and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means for articulating or pivotally connecting the elements of a linkage or bracelet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pivotal connection between the parts of the linkage which eliminates riveting' or similar mechanical operations lfor connecting the parts.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide improved pivot-means for connecting the links whereby they may be assembled more conveniently and `expeditiously without mechanical opera tions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of pivotal joint for the parts of a link- 2o age by means of which the links may be connected without mechanical operations and when so connected are locked securely against disconnection in use. A l

` Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specication which describes a preferred form` of construction of an extensible linkage for bracelets and the like as illustrated by the accompanying drawing; In the drawing:

Fig. 1` isa plan View of a watch-.bracelet ern-A' bodying the presentv invention; Fig. 2 is' a greatly enlarged plan view of a section of the present improved expansible linkageshowing it extended and illustrating certain of the pivot joints and othermechanical features thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar plan view showing the linkage with its parts contracted into 'closely relationship; A

Fig. 4 is a composite detailed .view showingaI o plurality of the links connected by the present improved pivot joints and also illustrating certain of the linksin disassembled relationship;

Fig. 5 is a further enlarged. sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. "2 and showing the central adjacent pivotal joint between the links and the spring The present invention is adapted particularly for;Y use in the manufacture of flexible bracelets,

.bands and-other extendible linkages of'a type now popular in watch-bracelets. This type of linkage vcomprises a plurality of articulated members pivotally connected at their centers and also pivotally joined at their extremities in X-rela tionship similar tothe construction of the familiarlazv-tongs.` The present improved linkage may consist o f a plurality of elongate members 2 10 of generally S-shape pivotally connected at their centers insuperimposed relationship andwith their opposite ends also pivotally joined so that they may be contracted into close association as shown' in Fig. 1, or extended as indicated in Fig. 2, by rocking themfon their central pivots. .When em, bodied in articles of jewelry, the linkage is preferably constructed with the pivotally-connected link-elements enclosed-in similarly-shaped shells which may be of precious metal or plated therewith to' embellish the complete article and conceal its mechanical construction.

The mechanical pivotal elements are constructed in complementary pairs in the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, being preferably stamped out from sheet-metal. Each link-element 5 consists preferablyof a at substantially S-shaped stamping having an elongate main portion with relatively straight sides and oppositely-curved ends. The element 5 is punched or perforated at the center to provide a relatively large circular opening 6; while at its ends are smaller circular openings 1 notched at one side to provide relatively narrow slots 8. The slots 8 are inclined at;4 an angle to the -axis of the element 5, being di- 35 rected generally toward the geometrical centerv of the opening 6; each opening at the ends of the link taking the form, more or less, of a keyhole or buttonhole.

The complementary link IU which is pivoted o centrally to the link 5 crosswise thereof is of the same general shape as the latter, but adapted to be connected thereto in reverse underlying relationship.v For this purpose the link I 0 is provided at its center with an upstanding cylindrical ange 45 forming a hollow rivet Il adapted for insertion through the central opening 6 in thetop link 5 with its end riveted or swaged over the edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, to pivotally connect the two link-elements. Each pair of link-elements 5 and 50 l0 are assembled and pivotally connected in this manner and their lends pivotally 'joined to adjacent pairs of linkelements of the same form and construction. In this manner a whole series ofllinks are assembled in crossed and superim- 55 posed relationship with their ends pivotally joined to provide for extension of the linkage as a whole.

The present improvement relates particularly 5 to the means for pivotally connecting'the outer l5 member 5 in overlying relationship with the member I0 and inserting the cylindrical flange II on Vthe member I through the opening 6in the upper member as shown in Fig. l4. The end of the flange II is then swaged or headed over as shown 20 in Fig. v5 to retain. the parts in pivotal connection. Each pair of link-elements and I0 thus assembled are joined at their ends to other pairs of links of similar construction and arrangement by first arranging the two`connected elements 5 and I0 in substantial alinement and then passing the hook-shpsd lugs I2 at the ends of the links I0 through the keyhole openings 1-8 in the links 5, the projections Il on the lugs I2 being passed through the slots 8 at the sides of the openings 30 1 in the links 5. A whole series of pairs of links are joined together in this manner to provide a linkage of any desired length. After the pairs of links 5 and i0 have been connected in sequence in the manner described l5 above, a slight extension of the linkage by rocking the links on their central pivots will cause the projections 'I3 on the vprongsor lugs I2 to swing to `one side of the slots 8, as shown in Fig. 3, to prevent disconnection of the linkage eleo ments. In other words, the projections on the l lugs I2 act as heads or abutments to hold the parts connected. To cause the linkage to be maintained normally in contracted relationship as shown in Fig. l, a 45 plurality of helical springs I5 are enclosed within the cylindrical Aanges or hollow rivets II on the elements I0 with their opposite ends extending outwardly and bearing against the sides o f the shells I8 and 2li which enclose the top and bot- 50 tom of the joined link-elementsS and i0.

The upper shell I8 is preferably formed of con- Acavo-convex shape with a highly crowned top and vertical sides conformingy to the sides of the upper link-element li to fit in closely abutting re- 5 5 lation thereagainst; the lower edges'of the sides i being swaged or formed in under the edges of the link` to attach the shell thereto, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.. The bottom shell 20 is of similar form andconstruction except that it has wa less crown or convexity and its sides are swaged around the upper edges of the, link-element I0., The upper end of each spring I5 extends out` wardly in a straight arm I6 with its end bearing against the sideof the upper shell I8, while 55 the lower arm IIl of the spring is similarly directed v` against the side o! the bottom shell 20; the springs being thus maintained under tension with their ends 'exerting a torce against each upper and lower link-element and tending to 70 swing them on their central pivots to bring them into. substantial alinement. The several link-elements 5 and III are prevented from swinging intoL exact alinement by the contact of the ends of their enclosing shells IB, vas indicated at 2i and 75 22 in Fig. 3, so that the'projections I3 on the ends of the lugs I2 cannot move into alinement withthesltsintheendsofthelinkstobecome released therefrom. Consequently, the last operation of assembling the shells on the pairs of link-elements 5 and I0 provides means for 5 -limiting the contraction of the linkage and thereby preventing the disconnection of the elements at their ends. It will thus be seen that after the parts of the linkage are once assembled the pivotal joints at the ends of the links can- 10 not be released even when the linkage is contracted or4 expanded to its extreme extension as indicated in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing specification it will be apparent that the present invention provides a particularly simple yet ingenious method of pivotally connecting the parts of avlinkage without requirsng riveting or other like mechanical operations. The present form of linkage is adapted for use as an expansible or extendible bracelet, band or the like either as a whole, or as a section thereof. The improved linkage is not only of highly ornamental appearance but 'has great utility in providing for expansion of the bracelet to allow it to slip over the hand in applying it to the wrist and then conforming to the shape of the Wrist to provide accmfortable t. v

While the device is herein shown as embodied in a preferred from of construction, it is to be understood thatvarious modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a linkage for articles' of jewelry such as 35 A bracelets, bands, belts and the like, the combination of a plurality of link-elements, and means for pivotally connecting the plurality of link-elements at their opposite ends to provide an expansible linkage comprising elongate open- 40 ings at the ends of certain of saidelements and hooked prongs on cooperating link-elements, the

Ahooked prongs on certain of the elements engaging through the elongate openings in the other link-elements with the hooks adapted to,.overlie the sides of said openings to prevent disconnection of the link-elements.

2. A linkage for articles of jewelry.and the like comprising a plurality of superimposed linkelements certain of said elements having elon- 'gate openings at their opposite ends and other of said elements having hooked prongs at their opposite ends engaging through the elongate openings in the first-named elements to adapt them to pivotally connect the ends of said elements whereby when they are slightly extended one in relation to the other the hooks on the prongs will prevent disconnection of the ends of said elements.

3. A linkage for articles of jewelry andthe .60 like comprising a series of link-elements having prongs at the opposite ends of certain of said link-elements with hooks projecting laterally from said prongs, cooperating link-elements superimposed on the rst-nam'ed link-elements and 65 having elongate openings at their opposite ends for receiving the hooked prongsA on the irst-v named'elements whereby when said link-elements are slightly extended one in relation to' another the hooks on the prongs will overlie the sides of 'l0 the elongate openings to prevent disconnection of thellnk-elements.

4.' A linkage for articles ofljewelry and the like comprising a plurality of elongate link-elements, one set of link-elements having openings u other cooperating yset of link-elements connected at their ends to the first-named elements by means of key-shaped lugs at their opposite ends inserted through the keyhole openings in the first-mentioned link-elements in position to pivotally articulate the link-elements to provide a lazy-tongs action thereof while locking them against disconnection.

5. A linkage forarticles of jewelry and the like comprising two series of superimposed linkeienients pivotally connected at their centers, one series of the link-elements having openings at their ends of keyhole shape, the opposite set of link-elements having,` lugs in the shape of keys projecting through the keyholes in the other linkelements, and means to prevent the link-elements of the different series -from being swung into a alinement by their pivoting motion whereby to maintain the key-shaped lugs on one set of elen ments locked in the keyholes vin the other set of elements.

6. A linkage for articles of `iewelry and the like comprising two sets or elongate link-elements arranged with one set superimposed on the other in crossed vrelation. thereto and plvoted together at their centers, openings of keyhole shape at the ends of one set of link-elements, key-shaped lugs projecting from the ends of the opposite set of link-elements and locked in the keyholes of the` first-named set of elements, resilient means'for maintaining said link-elements swunginto close association to contract the linkage, and means for preventing the" link-elements from being moved intoI position to release the .key-shaped lugs from the keyholes.

7. A bracelet or like article comprising two sets oi?` link-elements pivoted together at their centers in superimposed relationship, one set of link- 1 elements having openings in the shape oi' keyholes at their ends and the other set ot link-elements having key-shaped lugs engaging through the keyhole openings of the other set, resilient means for relatively swinging the elements to contract the linkage, and means for preventing disengagement of the key-shaped .lugs from the keyholes in whatever position the link-elements assume. v 

